July 4, 2013

AUSTIN, Texas — A nearly 13-hour filibuster and parliamentarian wrangling in the Texas Senate on June 25 and into early June 26 exhausted the final hours of the 83rd Texas Legislature’s special-called session and ended efforts to pass pro-life legislation.

The final minutes of the session broke down in a cacophony of noise from protestors and rules questions on the floor, leaving observers wondering if the measure passed by the midnight deadline.

Davis’ filibuster effort seemed to be cut short just after 10 p.m. following her third rules violation called by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Parliamentarian rules wrangling stalled a vote for almost another two hours.

The bill, stating that the unborn baby can feel pain as early as 20 weeks of gestation, would place restrictions on abortion after 20 weeks. The current state standard is 24 weeks.